Jun 27, 2013; Brooklyn, NY, USA; NBA commissioner David Stern speaks after the first round of the 2013 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
With just two games left and every team in the top (or bottom) six of the NBA draft lottery having played 80 games, now’s a good time to break down where the Lakers can finish in the draft lottery. As is, they are in the 6th spot, with an all-important game tonight against the Utah Jazz on tap tonight. Prior to the Lakers game is an equally critical match-up between the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics.
The Lakers could finish as high as the 3rd pick, but would need immense amounts of luck. There are dozens and dozens of scenarios that could play out, but we’ll do our best to take a look at what must happen for the Lakers to land in each spot for 6th to 3rd.
First, a handful of things to note
* The Lakers can not finish worse than 6th* All tiebreakers are decided by a coin flip. Regular season match-ups do not matter
* Current records of the four teams in question…
Lakers – 25-55
Celtics – 25-55Jazz – 24-56
Magic – 23-57
Lakers finish 6th in the lottery if….
Lakers win final two games and Boston wins just one of their final two games
OR
Lakers win final two games, Boston wins final two games, Lakers lose tiebreaker
OR
Lakers win one game and Boston does not win another game
OR
Lakers and Celtics win equal amounts of games and Lakers lose tiebreaker
OR
Lakers lose final two games, Boston wins at least one game, Utah wins one game, Lakers lose tiebreaker
OR
Lakers lose final two games, Boston loses final two games, Utah wins one game, Lakers lose tiebreaker
Lakers finish 5th in lottery if…
Lakers lose final two games, Boston wins at least one of it’s final two games, Utah loses final two games, Orlando wins no more than one game
OR
Lakers and Boston lose final two games, Utah wins final two games, Orlando wins no more than one game, Lakers lose coin flip against Boston
OR
Lakers lose final two games, Boston wins at least one game, Utah beats Lakers and lose final game, Orlando wins no more than one game, Lakers lose coin flip to Utah
Lakers finish 4th in lottery if…
Lakers and Boston lose final two games, Utah wins final two games, Orlando wins no more than one game, Lakers win coin flip against Boston
OR
Lakers and Boston lose final two games, Utah wins one game, Orlando wins no more than one game, Lakers win tiebreaker between LA-BOS-UTA
OR
Lakers and Boston lose final two games, Utah wins one game, Orlando wins final two games, Lakers finish second in tiebreaker between LA-BOS-UTA-ORL
OR
Lakers lose final two games, Boston wins at least one game, Utah wins both games, Orlando wins no more than one game
OR
Lakers lose final two games, Boston wins at least one game, Utah wins both games, Orlando wins final two games, Lakers lose tiebreaker between LA-ORL
OR
Lakers and Boston lose final two games, Utah wins final two games, Orlando wins final two games, Lakers finish second in tiebreaker between LA-BOS-ORL
OR
Lakers lose final two games, Boston wins at least one game, Utah wins one game, Orlando wins final two games, Lakers finish second in tiebreaker between LA-UTA-ORL
Lakers finish 3rd in lottery if…
Lakers lose final two games, Boston lose final two games, Utah wins one game, Orlando win final two games, Lakers win tie breaker between LA-BOS-ORL-UTA
OR
Lakers and Boston lose final two games, Utah wins final two games, Orlando wins final two games, Lakers win tiebreaker between LA-BOS-ORL
OR
Lakers lose final two games, Boston wins at least one game, Utah wins one game, Orlando wins final two games, Lakers win tiebreaker between LA-UTA-ORL
OR
Lakers lose final two games, Boston wins at least one game, Utah wins final two games, Orlando wins final two games, Lakers win coin flip between LA-ORL